A US$2 million project to improve the ecology of coastal forests in the southern province of Bac Lieu and the lives of local residents depending on them - was launched here on Monday.

A view of the Bac Lieu mangrove forest. A project improving the ecological functionality of coastal forests in the province has been funded.

An agreement was signed by deputy chairman of the Bac Lieu Provincial People’s Committee, Pham Hoang Be, and the German Technical Co-operation’s Viet Nam director, Guenter Riethmacher.

The three-year project, aimed at sustainable forest management and coastal protection, will be implemented in Hoa Binh and Dong Hai districts and Bac Lieu Town.

Several measures will be carried out, including rehabilitating coastal forests and increasing their biodiversity, conserving the Bac Lieu bird sanctuary, helping local residents boost incomes - and improving the management capacity of local staff.

Bac Lieu is one of the provinces in the Mekong Delta threatened with the effects of climate change.

Higher sea levels, stronger storms threaten lives and rice and seacooking production, the main income for local residents.

VietNamNet/VNS